The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-09-29
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
John N Thurston and Gen. J. o. Free
mont rs Witnesses.

mont as Witnesses.
NEW YORK, Sept. 2S.-Judge John
NJ. Thurston, was called to the stand to
day. He was appointed Assistant So
licitor to the Union Pacific for Ne
braska in 1875. Before his regular APP
pointment he had done service for the
company, is assisting to have recon-
sidered by the Nebraska Legislature, a
bill that was injurious to the COM
pany's interest. He stated that he
had used money but it was used in an
honorable manner in presenting the
railroads case to the people and the
Legislature.
Gen. John c. Fremont then took the
stand. He said he had, with General
Ewing and others paid sos, 600 for the
Leavenworth, Pawnee u Western rail-
road in 1860. 1t had then titles to
certain Indian lands and some prelim-
mary surveys. There was scarcely any
construction then. In 1854, the Cen
eral became estranged from one of his
colleagues and retired, receiving about
what he had paid. He never had had
hand in buying votes and knew moth
ing of any such improper use of money.
He then retired and at his own request.
General Thomas Ewing took the
stand and made this statement:
81 have asked this opportunity to
make statement respecting my con-
nection with the Leavenworth, Pawnee
& Western Railroad Company, which
in 1862 became a branch of the Pacific
Railway and especially to tell what l
know about certain contracts, alleged
TO have been made by that company
in aid of the passage of the first
Pacific railroad law-that of 1862. I
was connected with it as a director
about one year, from June 1861 to 1862,
but never had an active part in its
management. The real managers, of
the company was its President, j. III.
Mcdowell, Vice President, A. j.
Isaacs, and Treasurer, Gen. j. G.
Stone. They had absolute control of
the affairs of the company, for more
than a year before i became a mem
Der of the board, and for a still longer
time after l left to enter
the army. They went to Washington
at the opening of the Congress of 1861
81, to aid in passing the proposed Pa
ciffc Railroad Bill. l did not go there
until late in the session; in fact, until
the bill had passed the House and was
we'll on its way in the Senate. l re-
manned but few weeks and left before
it passed the Senate. l never again
met with the Board of the Executive
Committee for the reason that imme-
diately on returning to Congress was
offered and accepted a commission to
raise the Eleventh Kansas Infantry
Volunteers, and hereupOn dropped the
business of the Railroad Company and
never after had anything to do with it.
While in Washington on that occasion
l recollect to have joined one or more
of the gentlemen named in executing
four or five contracts with persons
whose names are set down in the lists,
in regard to which General Stone was
recently examined by this commission.
The company had at that time a char
ter, some surplus from LeavenwOrJh
West and right of purchase of GER
tain lands of the DelawareS. 1t had
nothing else save the hope of being
made part of the Pacific Railroad,
which the Kansas people greatly need
ed and desired to have built. There
was no possibility of building it except
with Government aid, The people of
the country were ignorant of it, and
inattentive to the pressing national
need of the Pacific Railway. 1t was
indispensable that the subject should
be thoroughly and ably represented
to Congress and to the country by
the press and personal discussion
with committees and members of Con-
gress. The company had no means
whatever to obtain such service except
by contracts for stocks and lands, the
value of which were wholly dependent
upon the passage of the bill. / am not
at all willing to admit that such en-
ployment of men was improper. L
have never had reason to believe that
any person with whom any contracts
were made had, or proposed to have,
any corrupt or improper understanding
or arrangement with any member Of
Congress respecting the bill"
The hearing was adjourned until
Tomorrow.